Boiler washing and filling system.



P. W. MILLER.' A BOILER WASHING AND FILLING Y APPLIOATIONHL'ED Nov.9,191 o. 4 l 997,504.

Patented'. JUIN 11,1911;

P. W. MILLER. BOILBR WASHING AND FILLING SYSTEM.

APPLICATION FILED NOV.9, 1910. I

997,504, Patented July 11, 1911.

y 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

UNITED sirrrnsfI OFFICE# I FRAKW. MILLER, or CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, AssIeNoa-oronE-,HALFTO CLARENCEIJ.

y Biemans, or CHICAGO, ILLINOIS. r' y rnoILnn wasrimerv ANL rILLINe SYSTEM.

1 specification of Letters Patent. l

To atlwhom 'it-.may concern: f Be 1t known that I, FRANKNV. MILLER, a`

citizen' of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the 'county of Cook and State of.

Illinois, have invented vcertain new and usefuly Improvements in Boiler Washing and Filling Systems, of whichthe following is4 a specifica-tion. i This invention relates to boiler washing..

and filling systems and aims' to provide a system inwhich thegwater and steam'blown off from gaiboiler may. be employed for heatl ing clean fresh water-,with which the boiler l One of the jobj'eo of this invention is to conserve both the .steam and water blown oif fr'oxnga boiler the system'being so constructed and arrangedfthat the blown-off water may y bejenlplo ed forwas'hout purposes while the blown-o steam is` condensed and mingled with'thefresh'rellingwaten Anotherobject'of the. inventin is the provision ofa-device wherethe blown-off steam' and water from a boiler may be dischargeddirectly into'the sewer, if desired. 'l

A further object consists Ain certain construction and arrangement ,whereby clean fresh water may be delivered by a. single,

. pump' to the washout water reservoir andthe yendsof the pipe lines refilling water heater simultaneously,

Still another object is the provision of a- Vpump and receiver inconnection wit-h a surfacecondenser forthe purpose of-injecting the water-of condensation from the blownoff steamdirectly into, the refilling water heater. E l '1 Other objects and advantages of tvhis'inventionwill become apparent as it is better understoodbyfreference to the followingde` ,"'scriptioInl when takenin connection with tlie accom anying drawings illustratinv a L preferre(i1 ;imbo'dimenttv thereof.` -b- Referring to the drawings-Figure' 1 is a side elevation, partially 1n section, of a boiler washin and filling system embodying my inventlon. -Fig. 2 1s an end elevation l refilling water lmain 7'1 These mains extend Patented Julyt 11, 19111."

around thev roundhousefandare provided. at

suitable intervals with drops. which --are adapted to beconnected kwith the locomotive boilers overA the its.

connected thereto al blow-0E drop 8jwhich' may bey providedat its llowerfend with a. iexible` pipe adaptedto. be connected to il locomotive 'boilerfv `diag'rainniatically illus- Y trated-at 9.. The blowoff drop is preferably providedpwith a'fehecl-vahefm which'preventsl passa eof steanpr ,water from 'the blowfoff Amam to the boiler. TA drop` 11 is. connected with the vwashout main and =a similar drop' 12 isconnectedwith therelling main. Each of the drops 8, 11 and -12 is provided with controlling valves 13,5114: and 15, respectively, by' means of which oom- 'munica'tion betweenv an .of the lines andi-the boiler may be control ed. The dro y,s ae

preferably suspended near Vand attac ed to thevertical posts 16 which arev located/be tween the` stalls -or pits of the'roundhouse. One set of dropsmay be employed for a pair ofl adjacent pits or stalls `so that ityis only necessary to locatev the drops between alternate pairs of stalls.

The blow-off main 5 'is connected with one end of a filling water lheater 17 supplied with inner heads 18 and 19 and with a 'baie-plate 2O abovewhich the blow-off main enters the heater. A plurality of tubes o'r f flues 21 are xedly secured at either end to `the inner heads to establish communication between the chambers formed outside the innerheads of the heater.' These tubes are Yspaced apart so as to'aiford considerable Aspace around them between the inner heads of the heater for the accommodation of the `v`filling water to be heated, as will belater described. y

A wash-water reservoir 22 is located beneath the filling water heater, said reservoir being connected with the chamber-.below the lbattle-plate ofthe heater by a pipel23- which extends into the reservoir below the normal level of the water therein for the purpose of preventing the return of steam from the reservoir tothe heater. The -reservoir .may be suitably supported in saddles 24 orA other supporting means while the heater v17 is preferably carried upon girders, or` I`beams vE25 directly above the reservoir. It vwill be e 60- As shownj'in ig.l 3.the blow-off linainhas,

. pipe 27 discharging at its lower end into the sewer 28. As the steam and water are` blown oit from theV boiler through the pipe 5, they will be deflected downwardly by the Y-itting, and any scale, sediment or other solidmatter carried by the blow-off .products will be collected in the pipe 27 while the steam and water pass onlfinto the heater.

A valve 29 is provided in the pipe 27 which may be opened to permit the accumulation of' scale and sediment to be discharged to the sewer at suitable intervals. It will be understood also, that this valve may be -opened during the blowing-oit operation, if

preferred, in which inst-ance the blown-off steam and water would be discharged direcltly to the sewer instead of passing through the heater. A pipe 30 leading from thel power plant which is usually ,located in the neighborhood of the roundhouse, is con nected with the blow-off pipe 5 for the purpose of conveying the exhaust steam from the' power plant to the heater thereby sav- .ing theheat units of the exhaust steam which are customarily dischargedto the atmosphere and lost. A check-valve 31 is preferably interposed in the pipe 30 to prevent blow`n-of steam and water from backingup into the exhaust steam pipe. .The blown-off steam and water and the exhaust steam discharged into` the refilling heater above the battle-plate 20,pass through the heating tubes to the chamber at the other endA of the heater and then back through the lower heating tubes to the chamber beneath the baiiie-plate 20 from whence they are dis'- charged into the reservoir 22 through the pipe `23. Y

l The reservoir 22 is provided aWith an overtlowipipe 32 which is adapted to draw the water from the bottom of the reservoir when thereservoir becomes full and discharge itto the sewer 28. In order to prevent the overiow from siphoning all the water from the reservoir a small vent-pipe 33 is attached to the crown of the overflow. A surge plate 34 provided with suitahl'; openings 35 is located in the reservoir near one end thereof so that any sediment deposited bythe pipe 23 in the reservoir will settle and be retained in this end by the plate lfrom whence it may be discharged upon opening lthe hand-valve, to the sewer through .60 pipe 6 The water which is to be heated in the heater 17 and discharged through the filling pipe 7 for refilling the boiler, is supplied to the heater around the tubes 21 through a pipe 38. The4 water is forced through'this pipe under pressure to the heater by means of a pump 39 which is connected to any suitable source of water supply by a pipe 40. In order that the temperature of the water within the heater maybe readily ascertained, a thermometer 41 is preferably located at the top of the heater and to prevent accumulation of eXcess pressure the heater is provided with a safety-valvey 42. Oneiofthe compartments outside the inner head of the heater may communicate with the atmosphere through-pipe 43 which is preferably provided with a back-pressure valve 44.

The hot blown-off steam and water in passing through the heater will heat the refilling water surrounding the tubes- 21 -to a'temperature,suitable for relling the boiler, the steam and water being then discharged into the lower reservoir, as previously described. Since the discharge end of the pipe 23 isv located below the normal. level of the water in the reservoir the steam will -tend to accumulate in the top of the reservoir above the water level.' In order to save as much as possible ofthe heat units of this steam and to utilize the steam itself for refilling purposes, I have provided a surf face condenser by means of which the steam is condensed, and also .means for pumping the water of condensation into the refilling heater where it is mingled with the refilling water. To accomplish this purpose, a surface condenser 45 of any preferred type or formation of a vacuum in the condenser the usual back-pressure val-ve 48 is provided.

Cold water is supplied to the condenser from the pump 39 through a pipe controlled by a valve 49. From the condenser the water is conducted by a pipe 50 to the reservoir 22, the admission of this water to the reservoir being controlled by a fioat-valve 51. The water of condensation produced by the condenser collected in a receiver 52 which is connected with a pump 53, the operation of said pump being controlled by the height of the acclunulated water in the receiver, so that when' a certain quantity of water of condensation has been accumu- 4 lated, the pump is set in operation to force this water through the 'pipe 54 into the heating 17 where is is mixed with the refilling water which has been supplied through the pipe 38.

By collecting the surplus blownp steam which accumulates in the reservoir and condensing'it, this watrof condensation which is. still hot, Vis saved. and this cleaii distilled water is injected irectly into the heater from .whence it is supplied to 'the boiler for refilling purposes. Inlocalities Where Water is scarce a d expensive to obtain, thisL saving of the s earn Which is'blown ofi' lfrom tlierboiler is ofconsiderable value and impor. tance. F vurthermore,'the heat units carried by the Water of condensation derived from 'the steam, aresavedand returned directly to 4the boiler, thus reduci-'ng th'e' time 'and fuel required' to get up steam again in the` boiler..

"The blown-ofi' Water which is stored in the reservoir 22 is savedand employed for washingout the-boiler `after the steam `and Water have f. eenblown off. -This `vwashout .water is drawn from the tank by a pump 55 through a strainer'box 56 and isjdischarged from the .pump directly to the Washoutline 6. As shown in Fig. 3, the endof the'wash-- outline may bev'c'onnectedjwith' the end ofA the blow-olf line so `that a circulation of vvas'hout Water may be established in theline A.for .the purpose of maintaining the Water which drops at the desired temperature, and

" an individual return lpipe 61 may be'cony naad with the end of refining main 7 for the same purpose.

For the purpose .of'maintainingthe washoutl Water in the reservoir at the desired temperature, a ,thermostat 57 is arranged to Aproject into lthe reservoir near the outlet pip'e. 58, and this thermostat ,automatically controls a valve 59 by means of a link alid;

connection 60, said valvev being interposed in al pipe 61 which is adapted to supply'live l steam to the reservoir. By this automatic means -live'steam may be vadmitted to the reservoir to maintain 'the washout Water, therein at the desired temperature. When `the washout Water discharged from theboiler is insufiieient to meet the demands for the.Wash-Water and the height of the Water falls -below a predetermined level, the flpatvalve 51 automatically opens and' permits fresh water from the condenser to-fiow into 'the reservoir until 1s lagain reached.

the, predetermined level In order to prevent fa vacuum forming in the reservoir 22,. suitable air-relief valves 61 are located inthe top thereof. Water gages 62 may be locate -at one end of the reservoir for indicating theheight fof the Water therein'.A The"`. re ir may be drained .when desired b` means of the pipe 36 through the "valves 37 and 63 located at either end.) of the reservoir, respectively. The strainer box. 56 may also be drained by openingthe Ialve 64. The chamber surrounding the tubes in theheater 17 may be drained into the sewer through the pipes 27 and 65 bymeans of the valv/'el 66. It ywill be understood, of course, 'that i the. reservoir heater and condenser are supplied with the .densed requisite number holes.

In my of` man-holes and handimprov'ed system, as above `de` scribed, allof the blown-eil"y steam and vwater from a boiler are utilized for heating clean' fresh Water which is to 'be used for refilling;

the' boiler. Not only are the heat units`of l -the steam and Water transferred to the fresh `filling Water, but the blown-0B. water itself is utilized Lfor vWashing out the boiler prier-toA refilling, While the blown-oftl steamis conand-mingled With thefresh refilling' Water. The use of- `all` the blown-oif products ofthe boiler for Wa'shingfout andreiilln ing the boiler again, :make this system very eiiicient, economical and desirable.l

While I' have show nand described a pre- -ferred embodiment "of my invention, it'will "be obvious that various minor, mechanical details maybe changed Without departing y"from the spirit thereof or sacrificing any of vthe materialadVant-ages, and that while the system has been shown and described' as particularly adaptable for cleaning andrefilling f locomotiveboilers, it Willbe equally as eilistationary boilers. t

What I desire to claim is: Y

1. A boiler WashingA and filling system comprising a yreservoir for containing Water cient and desirable for cleaningiand reiilling for washout purposes, a heater for containing water for reiillinglpurposes, means for conducting the lblown-off steam vand Water. vthrong-h said heater to the reservoir, a condenserya conduit for conducting the uncon-.- densed steam vfrom'the reservoir '.to the condenser, means for supplying cleanv fresh Water to the heater, and means for discharging t-he water of condensation into the heater where it is mingled with said clean fresh vvater;

2. A boiler Washing and filling system, comprising. aereservoir adaptdd to contain `washout Water, a heater for heating the refilling `Water, apipe'for conducting the blown-off steam and Water from a boiler. to

saidv heater, a pipe for conductingsaid blown-'0E steam and water from the heater to the reservoir, means for supplying clean fresh Water to the heater, `a surface con.

fromV said4 reservoir to the-boiler for Washout purposes, means for condensing the sur plus steam in the reservoir and injecting said Water of condensation into the iilling water heater, means for' supplyingvclean fresh Water to the heater, and a refilling line for conveying said mingled clean filling Water and water of, condensation to the boiler for refilling purposes.

4. In a boiler washing and filling system, the combination of a reservoir for Washing Water, a filling Water heater, means for conducting the blown-Dif steam and Water to said reservoir, a. surface condenser', a pipe for conducting the steam collected in said rcservoirto thecondenser means 'for injecting the Water of condensation from said condenser intothc heater, means for' supplying clean fresh Water to the heater Where it is mingled with said water of condensation, and a conduit for delivering the condensing water vfrom thc condenser to the reservoir where it is mingled With the blown-off water.

5. In a boiler Washing and iilling system, the combination of a reservoir for `Washing vater, a refilling water heater, means for conducting blowiroill steam and water to said heater, a connection from said heater whereby the blown-off steam and Water are discharged into said reservoir, a condenser, means for conduct-ing the steani rising uncondensed in said reservoir to said condenser, means for' injecting thev condensed steam into the filling Water heater where it is mine gled with the relling Water, means for supplying cold clean Water to said refilling heater and to said` condenser, and means for conducting-the clean Water from said condenser to said reservoir.

6. In a boiler `Washing and iilling system, the combination of a. reservoir, a filling Water heater, a blowsoiii pipe through which water and steam are blown oif from a boiler to said heater, a pipe for conducting exhaust steam'from power plant to said blow-off pipe, a check-valve located in said exhaust pipe, a lpipe for discharging the steam and Water from the heater to the reservoir, a surface condenser, a pipe for conducting the surplus steam from said reser- Voir to said condenser, and a pump. and receiver for collecting and introducing vthe Water of condensation into the heater.

FRANK W.- MILLER.

Titnesses I. J. iViLsoN, M. A. Kinnin. 

